Ocracoke Back On-Line

Centurylink network technician Randal Mathews explained that customers whose connectivity relies on a fiber optic cable running the length of Hatteras Island lost their service when Highway 12 overwashed and "the road pinched the cable."  Those relying on bandwidth through phone lines could still surf the web, update their facebook status, and stream Netflix while Sandy's wind and tides kept residents indoors.

The powers that be have decided that all of Ocracoke will be in a fiber optic world soon, said Mathews.  To prevent a similar loss of internet during future storms, Centurylink would need to commit to laying a fiber optic cable to Cedar Island, he said. 

Fiber optic accommodates all bandwidth demands, said Mathews.  4G connections ride the network as well. 

Mathews manages 10 offices along the Outer Banks, but he returned to the field after Sandy to get Ocracoke back on-line.  He admitted it had been years since he'd personally peered into the box full of wires, but no service technicians were able to get here. 

Centurylink was able to pinpoint the exact location of the pinched cable using a timed domain reflectometer.  The TDR shoots a beam down the tube, times its return, and calculates distance using the speed of light.  Science is cool.  The compromise was at a spot just north of the little bridge over Irene's inlet. 

Dare County bailed out Ocracoke again, Mathews said, by using their helicopter to fly crew to work on the pinched cable on Hatteras. 

By Wednesday evening everyone should be on-line once again, said Mathews.  Then he headed off for some trick or treating with his granddaughter.